Palau is one of the world's premier diving and marine destinations and the Rock Islands Southern Lagoon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with exceptional underwater biodiversity surrounding the 445 uninhabited islands. But Palau's marine environment demands respect and awareness.
Diving Safety
Palau is famous for (ocean) current diving and many of the best sites (Blue Corner, Blue Holes, Peleliu Wall) involve drift dives with strong currents that attract large marine life. This creates encounters with sharks, manta rays, and massive schools of fish, but it also means that there are some requirements to participate.
- Minimum certification: Most dive operators require Advanced Open Water certification or equivalent. And, some sites require 50+ logged dives.
- Current awareness: The ocean currents can shift rapidly, so you always need to carry a surface marker buoy (SMB) and whistle. Be sure to listen carefully to dive briefings.
- Reef hooks: Palau popularized the reef hook which is a metal hook on a line that attaches to dead coral, letting you hang in the current. You will need to learn to use it before your first current dive.
- Deep dives: There are several signature sites (Blue Holes, Chandelier Cave) that involve depths of 80-130 feet or 25–40 meters. You will need to monitor your air and bottom time carefully so, dive computers are essential.
- Decompression chamber: Palau has a hyperbaric chamber at Belau National Hospital in Koror. Make sure you know its location.
Jellyfish Lake
Jellyfish Lake (Ongeim'l Tketau) is Palau's most famous natural wonder, it is a marine lake containing millions of golden jellyfish that have lost their stinging ability over thousands of years of isolation. If you plan on swimming among them, it is surreal and safe, with a few rules:
- No scuba diving is allowed, it is snorkeling only. The lake's deeper layers contain toxic hydrogen sulfide.
- No fins are allowed to protect the jellyfish. Please swim gently.
- The lake was closed 2016–2018 when jellyfish populations crashed (likely due to El Niño warming). The populations have since recovered, but your experience depends on natural cycles.
- The hike to the lake is steep and about 15 minutes over rocky terrain. You will need to wear sturdy water shoes.
Sun and Heat
Palau sits 7 degrees north of the equator and UV radiation is intense all year-round:
- SPF 50+ reef-safe sunscreen is now legally required in Palau because they banned reef-toxic sunscreens in 2020, and they were the first nation to ban reef-toxic sunscreen.
- Rash guards will provide the best sun protection for water activities.
- Hydrate constantly since humidity averages 80%+.
General Safety
- Crime: Palau is safe. Any violent crime against visitors is rare, but standard precautions for valuables still apply.
- Roads: Koror's main roads are paved but some Rock Island access roads are unpaved. Please, drive carefully at night, there are no street lights outside town.
- Health: No malaria risks but dengue fever is possible so you do need to use repellent. The medical facilities in Koror are basic and serious injuries may require evacuation to Guam, Manila, or Hawaii.
- Travel insurance: This is absolutely essential and make sure your policy includes dive coverage (and at what depths they actually cover) and medical evacuation.
The Palau Pledge
Palau created the world's first eco-pledge stamped into passports and visitors must commit to act as responsible stewards toward the environment. This isn't ceremonial because Palau enforces marine conservation laws aggressively. You do not touch the coral, chase marine life, take any shells, and be sure to follow your guide's instructions.
Palau is one of the safest and most rewarding destinations in the Pacific and its marine environment demands respect, proper training, and good judgment.
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